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A physically challenged person, who was arrested for allegedly selling liquor illegally and released on bail, verbally abused the police and consumed poison in front of Kalakkad police station on Monday.

When he was selling liquor illegally, Sivan Pandi, 45, a physically challenged person from Vaduvoorpatti near Kalakkad, and his son Charles Naveen, 21, were arrested by the police. Their bike was also confiscated.

After registering the case, the Kalakkad police enlarged Sivan Pandi on bail considering his physical disability and poor health condition.

However, he came to the Kalakkad police station around 2.30 p.m. on Monday along with a few of his relatives and picked up heated argument with the police personnel in the police station for registering case against him. Even as the police were asking him to go home, Sivan Pandi consumed pesticide he had brought with him.

Immediately, his relatives took him to the nearby hospital for first-aid and then to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for treatment. His condition is said to be “stable”.

“Even though he had been arrested for illegally selling liquor, differently-abled Sivan Pandi was enlarged on bail as his health was not good. However, he, in a bid to divert the legal action taken against him, has verbally abused the law-enforcers on duty and threatened them of dire consequences. He has consumed poison to tarnish the image of police and policing. The police will never tolerate such activities and take stringent action against anyone preventing the police from discharging their duty and undermine peace,” warned V. Prassannakumar, Superintendent of Police, Tirunelveli.

(Those in distress or having suicidal tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling State’s health helpline 104 or Chennai-based Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050).